JAMB Exposes Massive High-Tech Fraud in 2025 UTME, Points Finger at Parents and CBT Operators

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed a shocking new level of examination malpractice, warning that a wave of technology-driven fraud is threatening the integrity of Nigeria’s educational system. The revelation came after a special committee submitted its report on the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), exposing a sophisticated network of cheating syndicates.

According to the committee’s chairman, Dr. Jake Epelle, the probe uncovered “alarming new methods of fraud,” including over 4,000 cases of “finger blending,” where candidates manipulated their biometrics to gain unfair advantages. The committee also found nearly 200 instances of AI-assisted impersonation, where impostors used advanced image morphing to trick the biometric system.

The investigation didn’t stop at the candidates. The report pointed a strong finger at a wider network of facilitators, revealing the direct complicity of some parents, tutorial centers, and even Computer-Based Test (CBT) operators. Dr. Epelle described the malpractice as “highly organised, technology-driven and dangerously normalised,” underscoring the depth of the crisis.

In response, the committee has proposed a radical overhaul of the system. Their recommendations include the use of AI to detect biometric anomalies, real-time monitoring of exams, and the creation of a central security operations center. They also called for legal reforms to make it easier to prosecute offenders and urged a nationwide campaign to re-instill a culture of integrity, holding parents accountable for their role in the fraud. The report serves as a critical wake-up call, emphasizing that without urgent action, the credibility of Nigeria’s education system could face a complete collapse.